The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-04-11
Che 9aily 8nllstin,
MONDAY. APRIL II. 1887.
FIRING the LARGEST GUN IN the
WORLD,

The first three proof rounds of the
powerful new gun supplied by the
Elswick Works for her Maicsty's
barbette ship Benbow, were fired
the other day, at the butts at Wool
witch Arsenal, the result so far 60
ing to show that this is the finest
specimen of artillery as yet pro-
duced. In length it is 524 inches
or nearly IA feet. The inner tube
is of solid steel throughout. strength
ened by jackets of comparatively
thin steel hoops. The length of the
bore is 4S7a inches, and the rilling,
which consists of multitude of
small, shallow grooves, extends for
1912 inches, or about 33 feet. The
diameter Of the bore is 16t inches.
The diameter of the powder cham
Der is trifle over 21 inches, and its
capacity 2S,610 cubic inches. The
twist of the rifling commences with
one in l20 calibers, and increases to
one in So calibers. The gun is
mounted on fine cast-steel truck,
which weighs 80 tons, and on the
proof rounds fired it ran up the
incline from 80 to 20 feet. The
first round was fired with GOO
pounds of Westphalian powder, and
a cylindrical projectile weighing
1900 pounds. The second round
was with a shot of like weight and
700 pounds of the same powder,
being the largest charge rs yet fred
in England. The velocity attained
was ,S43 feet per second, the ener-
gy acquired being about 43,l00
foot-tons. The third round was
with similar projectile of 1880
pounds, and powder charge Of
800 pounds. The velocity attained
was 2,007 feet per second, and the
energy rose to some $4,000 foot
tons. The pressures of the gases
within the chamber of the gun at
the time of the powder discharged
were nine tons with the compound
charge, twelve-tons with the 700-
pounds and fifteen tons with the
800 pound charges. The recoil Of
the gun in the last round was con-
trolled by the hydraulic buffers
within 4 feet inches. 1t is eX-
pected that when the next date of
of proof-firing is determined, pow
der charges of $50 pounds, 900
pounds, 925 pounds, and $50 pounds
will be used with projectiles of
1880 pounds weight.
A further trial of the 110-ton gun
although only a single round
took place yesterday at the butts of
Woolwich Arsenal, says the Pail
Mall Gazette of February 18th.
On the former occasion, it will he
remembered, the powder charges,
commencing with 600 pounds were
increased to 800 pounds. The firing
was made yesterday with cylindri-
cal shot of 1900 pounds weight as
before; but with an increased pow
der charge of $50 pounds. The
highest pressure to which the gun
will be subjected in service is in
tended to be about II tons. In
proofs, however, higher charges
than service charges are frequently
used to test the quality of the
weapon. This one round has al
ready proved the sufficient strength
of the new weapon for the service
requirements. Although the pres
sure rose beyond anticipation, the
velocity was not increase proportion
ately the estimated velocity being
slight over2, 100 feet per second, while
the actual muzzle velocity attained
was 2,078 feet. The recoil of the
gun on its carriage was 3 feet 8
inches only as compared with 4 feet
6 inches with the S00-pound powder
charge on the former occasion. The
remainder of the programme to fire
90O-pound and 950-pound charges
will most probably be carried out
with slower burning Waltham Alb
hey powder.-[S. f. Bulletin.